Co-ordinating A Large Team

[Guest]

Hi, I've been the foundation stage co-ordinator of a foundation stage unit for a couple of years now, as I kind of 'grew into' the position (didn't apply for it got asked to do it) I'm still finding some aspects of the role INCREDIBLY difficult. We have systems in place and all staff no what they are doing etc but mainly I'm concerned about time wasting. There are SO MANY jobs to be done above and beyond the day to day running of the place that I can't help feeling annoyed when staff start standing around chatting-it might just be 10 minutes in the morning but if all those minutes were added up...

Is this a common problem when working in a large team do you think? Maybe its because I'm the youngest member of the team but I don't want to get anyone's back up by nip-picking-I'm sure I don't utilise my own time properly all the time and of course its nice to chat about non work related things but when this means pencils haven't been sharpened or paper hasn't been replenished sorry just had to let off aq bit of steam AGAIN (I've sent a very similar post once before) but i'd be really greateful for any kind of reassurance/tips.

Thanks a lot

Zim

[Guest alisonjayne]

I run a small Nursery and must admit I get a little frustrated when I have been in early in the morning and set up and the rest drift in make tea and chat! I have to ask some staff to do particular jobs eg get out paper, put out names..... I hope that as we grow as a team that they will begin to see things that need doing for themselves. Here's hoping!!! I must admit that they don't seem to get upset when I do ask them to do a job.

I am thinking of writing a list of things that need doing on a regular basis and putting this on the notice board. Will let you know if this works.

[AnonyMouse_64]

I did have a problem last year (which has resolved since that member of staff is no longer with me!). It can be very annoying when you're rushing around trying to get everything done and others don't seem to see what is in front of them. Perhaps if everyone has responsibility for certain areas it might work better Zim? This might then help them to focus a little better.

[Guest]

I agree with Beau,

Initiative is a must in our profession and giving certain areas of responsibility to certain people can help with monioring "who" has or has not done what.

 

Alisonjayne,

...but do your staff read the notice board?

(talking from experience here!)

 

Peggy

[Guest tinkerbell]

I tried last year to find my assistants strengths or interests and give them the responsibility for setting up the area and planning the activities .I had a wonderful response from one of my workers who took over the baking,sent out the letters for money and children to have a container to take home theirefforts,she buys all the ingredients,tunes in to the weekly topic and chooses relevent recipes(photocopies these and sends them home!)sets up the baking area before school starts and washes up in playtime!!! I am so lucky.

Another worker is TOPS trained and I let her plan and set up,teach groups of children in games and gymnastics.

I think giving your staff responsibility for areas that interest them may make them take some personal pride it will also split them up if they are socialising instead of working.

 

Good luck Tinkerbell

[AnonyMouse_2732]

Some good ideas, there. It can be a real pain, can't it! Our manager just walks in to a room, or bangs on the window if the children are outside and pulls a face - everyone knows what she means, and we all get on so well there's never any unpleasantness. We once had a girl who wouldn't take the hint, but she was a nightmare in lots of ways and 'walked' after a few weeks, so it didn't become a long-term problem for us.

Sorry, not really much help, but I thought I'd break my silence, now I've got a few minutes 'me time' after the rush of coming back from hols (lovely, thanks) and returning to work!

 

Now to try to catch up with the posts

 

Sue

[AnonyMouse_73]

Hi Zim, how big is your team/

Good advice there form others above but we had an awful lot of issues last year over new contracts and hours for our support staff and I wonder if these have been laid down for your staff. Do they all know the hours they are meant to work, do they have a job description, do they know what their roles and repsonsibilities are? yes I know thats a bit obvious but prior to last year we had staff on differetn hours, with diferetn job titles funded by different sources. The remodelling of the wrok force has streamlined all this.

 

Following that one of the things we do this year is to have a brief meeting at the start of teh day where we indicate the things that need doing (we keep an odd jobs list), then if I find someone is chatting, Ill ask them if they have done it yet? To be fair our team is pretty wonderful and we all work very hard, but we do fnd that we have to constantly remind ourselves that those precious momenst before school are working times, not chatting times. Get them into the habit of talk and work at the same time... you can still chat whilst yo are sharpening the pencils...and someone else is mounting work.

 

If the subtle fails, then go for the direct approach and talk to staff about this, and keep talkng to them about it (stuck record).

[Guest]

Thanks for all your advice-really appreciate it and will try to take it on board